title: Decreased vitreal hyaluronan levels with aging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate age-related changes in hyaluronan levels in human eyes before and after vitrectomy surgery, we measured the hyaluronan levels in the vitreous samples obtained during vitrectomy and postoperative fluid-air exchange.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained the vitreous during vitrectomy from 26 eyes of 26 patients with macular hole (MH) and 52 eyes of 52 patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). After vitrectomy, we collected fluid samples during fluid-air exchange from 6 eyes with MH and 9 eyes with DR. The hyaluronan level was measured by the sandwich binding protein assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the vitreous of the 54 eyes (26 eyes with MH and 28 eyes with DR and no vitreous hemorrhage), hyaluronan levels significantly decreased with patient age (r = -0.66, p < 0.00000005). Hyaluronan levels in postoperative vitreous fluid were significantly lower in 6 eyes with MH (p < 0.05) and 9 eyes with DR (p < 0.01) than those obtained during vitrectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a significant decrease in vitreous hyaluronan with aging. High-molecular-weight hyaluronan appears not to be formed in vitreous fluid after vitrectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itakura
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kotajima
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid